“Morning, Cinderella,” Courtney said, a smirk on her face as she walked into the kitchen, phone in hand.

“It’s Ella, and good morning,” I replied without looking up from my notebook.

She continued making her way to one of the chairs at the breakfast table.

I kept my head down, jotting down notes for the layout. The idea for my app had lived inside my head for months, and the school counselor, Ms. Moreau, had convinced me to present it at the upcoming state technology and science competition.

Lindsay trailed behind Courtney, also too busy to look up from her phone. “If your name is Daniela, why does everyone call you Ella? That doesn’t even make sense.”

No one called me Daniela. Except for Sophia.

My dad had given me the nickname, but I didn’t want to talk about that with them.

I exhaled and put the notebook away. My app needed to win, if only to get me out of here. I had been ready to skip the competition, but when Ms. Moreau mentioned the big college scholarships up for grabs, I said yes. Maybe other students had parents who’d been saving for their college education since they were in diapers, but that definitely wasn’t my situation. While my stepmom and stepsisters loved to go on last-minute shopping spree, the clothing budget I received was minimal.

I glanced down at my jeans, hoodie, and sneakers. Plain, but affordable. All I had done to my boring brunette hair was brush it. Forget about makeup. Plus, I had my dad’s sun-kissed Puerto Rican skin and dark eyes behind my glasses. My stepsisters and I couldn’t be more different, in looks or personality. Just like every other day, my stepsisters could have stepped out of a teen fashion magazine with their picture-perfect outfits, mascara-covered lashes, and styled blonde hair.

I pasted a smile on my face. “I’m going to get started on breakfast.”

I walked over to the fridge and got out ingredients for veggie omelets and turkey bacon.

A couple minutes later, high heels click-clacked closer and closer, and I hurried to finish chopping the vegetables.

“Daniela, it’s 7:15, and you’re just starting breakfast?” Sophia said. She donned black dress pants with a matching jacket, her hair in a weird hive-looking bun and her face covered in the usual multiple layers of makeup. “We’re going to be late.”

“Good morning, Sophia,” I said, hoping she’d have something nice to say just this once.

She grabbed a thermos and went over to the coffee maker. “Make sure you don’t put cheese on mine like you did yesterday. You know I can’t tolerate dairy.”

No such luck, then.

She took the mail from the small metal holder she kept on the counter and sorted through it while I fixed her breakfast a couple feet away.

Her hand paused on a letter, and my eyes landed on the envelope she was holding. I froze when I saw my name.

“Is that for me?” I blurted without thinking.

Sophia shoved the letter and envelope in with the rest of the mail in her hands. “It’s about you, but it’s for me. Nothing for you to worry about. Just meaningless guardianship paperwork I need to take care of.”

It wasn’t the first letter she’d gotten about me, but it had been a while. She walked off, taking the mail with her. I went back to cooking her breakfast.

I packed it for her and set it aside, checked the clock on the stove, and realized I was running late.

Sophia grabbed her breakfast and coffee to go without a thank you. “Have a good day, girls!” The front door slammed shut behind her as she left for work. Courtney and Lindsay got up from the table without another look at me. Like every other morning, they didn’t bother taking their dirty plates to the sink.

Lindsay grabbed her bag. “We’re leaving. We’re not going to risk getting a tardy because of you.”

They flounced out of the kitchen together, and I raced to finish rinsing the frying pan and cutting board, not to mention get the soap off my hands.

“Wait! I’m right behind you,” I shouted, but I was greeted with the sound of the closing door.

I grabbed their plates and put them in the sink, resisting the urge to throw them instead. Sophia would pitch a fit if I didn’t load the dishwasher before we left, but Courtney and Lindsay were my ride to school.

I ran outside to catch them, but their car was already leaving the driveway and turning onto the road. That’s when I noticed I didn’t even have my backpack on.

Seriously? They were probably laughing right about now.

I took another deep breath, went back inside, dried my hands, and got my backpack from the kitchen table.

I went the other way to the garage for my bike. I was probably going to be late again—my second time this month. I pushed my glasses up my nose and wheeled my bike onto the driveway. If I pedaled really hard, I could make it.

I’d be gross sweaty girl all morning, but I’d make it.

Maybe.

I pushed the button on the keypad next to the garage and heard the garage door close behind me. I pushed off with my right leg and rode toward the street.

Just another day in my Cinderella life.